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Identifying marginal pigs can help producers reduce feed costs

Refining culling plans can help producers use high priced feed efficiently.

Pork producers are facing rising feed costs for the rest of
2012 and early 2013. These are results of a difficult growing season, filled
with drought and abnormal weather patterns. Ways to help producers battle these
record level feed expenses are minimal and every effort to identify areas that
can help reduce input costs should be made. As producers look for ways to use
this high priced feed more efficiently on their farms some consideration should
be given to refining their culling and replacement plans.

When utilizing high price feedstuffs in your swine diets you
need to be focused on feeding productive animals and quickly identifying
problem pigs. Eliminating marginal pigs from your inventory can be done in all phases
of pork production. Assessing the pigs for lameness, health issues and ability
to grow are priority areas when evaluating quality pigs. When selecting for
quality, a pig’s individual ability to maintain the same growth rate as its
current group should be considered. With higher feed costs you should be
focused on animals that will need the least number of days to reach market
weight.

Quality animals in your sow herd should also be a focus
during times of high feed costs. Sows with good production history and overall
physical appearance should make up the majority of your herd. When looking for
animals to cull you should evaluate the sows over their lifetime in the
following areas:

Milking ability

Foot and leg health

Age

Number of born alive, number of weaned

Number of days to return to estrus

Farrowing rate

When considering how you are going to manage the increased
feed costs for the future, consider working to eliminate all marginal animals
from your production. This will help you focus on producing quality animals
with your high cost inputs.

July 28, 2017 | Katie Ockert | Animals exhibited at the county fair that will return to their home herds pose a significant biosecurity risk to the animals left at home. Follow these steps after the fair has ended to protect everyone.